Now obviously you can make a couple adjustments to the above build to shave off some costs. Again, this is for ideas, and this is the best build they recommend for priceerformance value.

If you want to save money, look for a motherboard with built in graphics. They'll suck, but they should still come above the minimum specs. You could try the Intel GMA that comes with Core i3/i5 but I don't know if SC2 and FF14 will support it. Possibly, but possibly not. At least it can play Borderlands... Anyway, by getting an IGP with the motherboard/CPU, it saves you money which you can save up until you have enough to get the GFX card of your dreams. Preferably HD 5770 minimum, although you'll still be fine with a HD 5670. I've not mentioned nVidia because they simply haven't made GPUs that can compete with ATI since the GeForce 9800 (which shared architecture with the next 2 generations of nVidia GPUs). They might have the edge in the laptop market with Optimus/330M, but in desktops ATI are simply better these days.

For the CPU, you could go with an AMD CPU like the PhenomII X2 (don't bother with the X4/6 - you don't need the extra cores). I just find as a rule of thumb - AMD are 15-40% weaker compared to equivolently priced Intel CPUs.

For the PSU, you should be looking at the 400-500W range. And whatever PSU you pick, make sure it's from a good brand like Corsair or OCZ. Non-branded PSUs are electrical and fire hazards (and what would you expect for 1/3 of the price?).

HDD: Obviously you should only get as much as you need. I've got 2x1TB Samsung Spinpoint F1 in my computer and I'm practically out of space (shows how much music/games/anime I've got...). If you're more careful, 320GB will be fine (games rarely take more than 10GB anyway). In any case, they're cheap, and you can always get more as and when you need it - it'll even get cheaper/bigger by then!

Windows: Not included in the price. I recommend getting a legit copy, but as a former student I know how helpful it can be to find other means of obtaining Windows to save yourself £90+ which can be better spent on a good GPU.

According to CustomPC, the Samsung Spinpoint F3 is the best HDD without paying over double to get that 10,000 rpm malarky, and even then the performance gap isn't that big (certainly not worth the premium in price). And it's cheap - £45 for 1TB, as I said before. You can also get a Spinpoint F2 EcoGreen 1.5TB for £55 too, which is only 5,400rpm, a lil slower but very good value.

I'll leave it to someone else to find NewEgg links for the F2 and their prices in $.

You should get a Compaq Presario Desktop.
They cost $587AUD where i live but probs about $470 in American Moneyz.
And it has 2.8GHz 2GB RAM and 320GB HDD.
So that would be a good consideration.
Don't. Too expensive for what you get.
QUOTE(Devante @ Aug 12 2010, 01:26 PM) What do you guys think about this deal? http://fresno.craigslist.org/sys/1875835142.html

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Don't do that either. New for that amount? Seriously, I can get that processor for 60 European bucks. It's not worth it.
Graphics card? The guy's really out of his mind. You can get a 5770 for $150 at Newegg.
Do us and your wallet a favor and don't buy from this guy. He doesn't know what he's talking about.